Stimulation of human breast carcinoma cell invasiveness and urokinase plasminogen activator activity by glucose deprivation

Glucose deprivation has been shown to increase the invasive and metastatic potential of tumour cells. In the present study, we determined whether the enhanced tumour cell invasiveness resulting from glucose deprivation is linked to increased activity of enzymes required for extracellular matrix degradation. Results of in vitro invasion assays revealed that the invasiveness of human MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells and MCF-10A1 normal breast cells was, respectively, 3.9-, 2.9-, and 2.1-fold higher when they were incubated under glucose-deprivation (0.2 mM glucose) than when incubated under physiological blood glucose levels (5 mM). This effect of glucose deprivation on invasion correlated with increased urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasmin activity. Glucose deprivation did not increase the levels of gelatinase and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 secretion, or the expression of cell-associated uPA receptor. To determine whether the increased invasiveness resulting from glucose deprivation is causally linked to increased uPA activity, invasion assays were conducted using MDA-MB-231 cells incubated in 0.2 mM or 5 mM glucose in the presence of a neutralising anti-uPA antibody. Results revealed that the anti-uPA antibody significantly inhibited invasion in a dose-dependent manner and to a much greater extent in cells incubated in 0.2 mM glucose than in cells incubated in 5 mM glucose. These results suggest that low glucose levels in malignant cancers increase tumour cell invasiveness by stimulating uPA and plasmin activity.     

Inhibition of human breast cancer cell (MBA-MD-231) invasion by the Ea4-peptide of rainbow trout pro-IGF-I

It was shown previously that Ea4-peptide of trout pro-IGF-I exerted mitogenic activity in non-transformed cells and inhibited colony formation in a soft agar medium of established human cancer cells. Here we report that the same peptide inhibits the invasion of human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) through a matrigel membrane in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI1) genes in MDA-MB-231 cells were downregulated by treatment with rtEa4-peptide. The inhibition of expression of these genes in response to rtEa4-peptide treatment was reduced to the control level when inhibitors for c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2), mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 (Mek1/2), p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and phosphokinase C (PKC) were used. These results suggest that inhibition of invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells by rtEa4-peptide may be mediated via the suppression of uPA, tPA, and PAI1 gene activities through signal transduction pathways.     

Activation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) via a converging plasmin/stromelysin-1 cascade enhances tumor cell invasion

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) may play a critical catalytic role in tissue remodeling in vivo, but it is secreted by cells as a stable, inactive zymogen, pro-MMP-9, and requires activation for catalytic function. A number of proteolytic enzymes activate pro-MMP-9 in vitro, but the natural activator(s) of MMP-9 is unknown. To examine MMP-9 activation in a cellular setting we employed cultures of human tumor cells (MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells) that were induced to produce MMP-9 over a 200-fold concentration range (0.03-8.1 nM). The levels of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs) in the induced cultures remain relatively constant at 1-4 nM. Quantitation of the zymogen/active enzyme status of MMP-9 in the MDA-MB-231 cultures indicates that even in the presence of potential activators, the molar ratio of endogenous MMP-9 to TIMP dictates whether pro-MMP-9 activation can progress. When the MMP-9/TIMP ratio exceeds 1.0, MMP-9 activation progresses, but through an interacting protease cascade involving plasmin and stromelysin 1 (MMP-3). Plasmin, generated by the endogenous urokinase-type plasminogen activator, is not an efficient activator of pro-MMP-9, neither the secreted pro-MMP-9 nor the very low levels of pro-MMP-9 associated with intact cells. Although plasmin can proteolytically process pro-MMP-9, this limited action does not yield an enzymatically active MMP-9, nor does it cause the MMP-9 to be more susceptible to activation. Plasmin, however, is very efficient at generating active MMP-3 (stromelysin-1) from exogenously added pro-MMP-3. The activated MMP-3 becomes a potent activator of the 92-kDa pro-MMP-9, yielding an 82-kDa species that is enzymatically active in solution and represents up to 50-75% conversion of the zymogen. The activated MMP-9 enhances the invasive phenotype of the cultured cells as their ability to both degrade extracellular matrix and transverse basement membrane is significantly increased following zymogen activation. That this enhanced tissue remodelling capability is due to the activation of MMP-9 is demonstrated through the use of a specific anti-MMP-9 blocking monoclonal antibody.     

Matrine suppresses breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion via VEGF-Akt-NF-<Emphasis Type="Italic">κ</Emphasis>B signaling

Matrine has shown therapeutic and/or adjuvant therapeutic effects on the treatment of some patients with breast cancer. However, its mechanisms of action are largely unknown. To disclose the mechanisms, we investigated in vitro and ex vivo effects of matrine on the cancer cells. Our results confirmed that matrine significantly suppressed the proliferation of highly-metastatic human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell line. Matrine displayed synergistic effects with existing anticancer agents celecoxib (the inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2), trichostatin A (the histone deacetylase inhibitor) and rosiglitazone against the proliferation and VEGF excretions in MDA-MB-231 cells. Matrine induced the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by reducing the ratios of Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA levels in the cancer cells. Matrine significantly reduced the invasion, MMP-9/MMP-2 activation, Akt phosphorylation, nuclear factor κB p-65 expression and DNA binding activity, and mRNA levels of MMP-9, MMP-2, EGF and VEGFR1 in MDA-MB-231 cells. Collectively, our results suggest that matrine inhibits the cancer cell proliferation and invasion via EGF/VEGF-VEGFR1-Akt-NF-κB signaling pathway.     

二氢杨梅素抑制人乳腺癌细胞侵袭和下调MMP-2/-9蛋白表达研究

藤茶活性成分二氢杨梅素(3, 5, 7, 3′, 4′, 5′-六羟基-2, 3-二氢黄酮醇,DMY)体外对几种癌细胞具有抗增殖作用,但机制尚未完全清楚．本文研究DMY对人高转移型乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞侵袭的影响,并探讨可能的机制．用MTT法检测DMY对MDA-MB-231细胞的增殖抑制率;明胶酶谱分析明胶酶活力;基质金属蛋白酶(MMP-2/-9)的基因表达水平和蛋白质表达水平分别利用实时定量PCR和Western blot分析进行检测．Transwell模型检测DMY对肿瘤细胞侵袭的影响．结果显示,DMY以剂量依赖方式抑制MDA-MB-231细胞的增殖,作用48 h的IC50为73.6 mg/L．DMY显著抑制明胶酶活性和MMP-2/-9蛋白表达,并抑制MMP-2/-9 的mRNA表达水平．此外,DMY不依赖细胞毒作用和以剂量依赖方式抑制MDA- MB-231细胞的侵袭．这些结果提示：DMY能显著抑制人乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞的侵袭和增殖, 其侵袭抑制的机制可能与其下调MMP-2/-9蛋白表达水平相关．     

U94 alters FN1 and ANGPTL4 gene expression and inhibits tumorigenesis of prostate cancer cell line PC3

Background  

Breast cancer cells frequently metastasize to the skeleton and induce extensive bone destruction. Cancer cells produce proteinases, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the plasminogen activator system (PAS) which promote invasion of extracellular matrices, but whether these proteinases degrade bone matrix is unclear. To characterize the role that breast cancer cell proteinases play in bone degradation we compared the effects of three human breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231, ZR-75-1 and MCF-7 with those of a normal breast epithelial cell line, HME. The cell lines were cultured atop radiolabelled matrices of either mineralized or non-mineralized bone or type I collagen, the principal organic constituent of bone.     

Activated protein C enhances cell motility of endothelial cells and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells by intracellular signal transduction

Activated protein C (APC), an anticoagulant serine protease, has been shown to have non-hemostatic functions related to inflammation, cell survival, and cell migration. In this study we investigate the mechanism by which APC promotes angiogenesis and breast cancer invasion using ex vivo and in vitro methods. When proteolytically active, APC promotes cell motility/invasion and tube formation of endothelial cells. Ex vivo aortic ring assays verify the role of APC in promoting angiogenesis, which was determined to be dependent on EGFR and MMP activation. Given the capacity of APC to promote angiogenesis and the importance of this process in cancer pathology, we investigated whether the mechanisms by which APC promotes angiogenesis can also promote motility and invasion in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. Our results indicate that, extracellularly, APC engages EPCR, PAR-1, and EGFR in order to increase the invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells. APC activation of matrix metalloprotease (MMP) -2 and/or -9 is necessary but not sufficient to increase invasion, and APC does not utilize the endogenous plasminogen activation system to increase invasion. Intracellularly, APC activates ERK, Akt, and NFκB, but not the JNK pathway to promote MDA-MB-231 cell motility. Similar to the hemostatic protease thrombin, APC has the ability to enhance both endothelial cell motility/angiogenesis and breast cancer cell migration.     

Melanotransferrin stimulates t-PA-dependent activation of plasminogen in endothelial cells leading to cell detachment

Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is an extracellular serine protease that converts the proenzyme plasminogen into the broad-spectrum substrate serine protease, plasmin. Plasmin, one of the most potent pro-angiogenic factors, is a key element in fibrinolysis, cell migration, tissue remodeling and tumor invasion. In the present investigation, we assessed the impact of the truncated form of soluble melanotransferrin (sMTf) on plasminogen activation by t-PA and subsequent endothelial cell detachment. Co-treatment of human endothelial microvessel cells with plasminogen, t-PA and sMTf significantly increased plasmin formation and activity in the culture medium. Plasmin generated in the presence of sMTf also led to a 30% reduction in fibronectin detection within cell lysates and to a 9-fold increase within the corresponding cell medium. Moreover, the presence of sMTf increases EC detachment by 6-fold compared to cells treated only with plasminogen and t-PA. Although the addition of alpha(2)-antiplasmin completely prevented plasmin formation and EC detachment, epigallocatechin gallate, GM6001 and a specific antibody directed against MMP-2 prevented cellular detachment without interfering with plasminogen activation. Overall, these data suggest that the anti-angiogenic properties of sMTf may result from local overstimulation of plasminogen activation by t-PA, thus leading to subsequent degradation of the Fn matrix and EC detachment.     

Benzyl isothiocyanate inhibits basal and hepatocyte growth factor-stimulated migration of breast cancer cells

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), which is found in cruciferous vegetables, has been shown to have anti-carcinogenic properties. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has the ability to stimulate dissociation, migration, and invasion in various tumor cells, and abnormally increased expressions of HGF and its transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor, c-Met, have previously been detected in human breast cancer, and are associated with high tumor grade and poor prognosis. In this study, in order to assess the mechanisms relevant to the BITC-induced regulation of breast cancer cell migration and invasion, MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells and 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma cells were cultured in the presence of 0-4?μmol/l BITC with or without 10?μg/l of HGF. BITC inhibited both the basal and HGF-induced migration of MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In MDA-MB-231 cells, BITC reduced both basal and HGF-induced secretion and activity of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). In addition, BITC increased the protein levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. HGF stimulated c-Met and Akt phosphorylation, but did not affect the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 or stress-activated protein/c-jun N-terminal kinase. BITC suppressed NF-κB activity and reduced the HGF-induced phosphorylation of c-Met and Akt in a dose-dependent manner. LY294002, a specific Akt inhibitor, reduced both basal and HGF-induced uPA secretion and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. In this study, we demonstrated that BITC profoundly inhibits the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells, which is associated with reduced uPA activity, and also that these phenomena are accompanied by the suppression of Akt signaling.     

Alendronate promotes plasmin-mediated MMP-9 inactivation by exposing cryptic plasmin degradation sites within the MMP-9 catalytic domain

Irreversible MMP-9 inhibition is considered a significant therapeutic goal in inflammatory, vascular and tumour pathology. We report that divalent cation chelators Alendronate and EDTA not only directly inhibited MMP-9 but also promoted irreversible plasmin-mediated MMP-9 inactivation by exposing cryptic plasmin-degradation sites within the MMP-9 catalytic-domain and producing an inhibitory hemopexin-domain fragment. This effect was also observed using MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, which activated exogenous plasminogen to degrade endogenous proMMP-9 in the presence of Alendronate or EDTA. Degradation-mediated inactivation of proMMP-9 occurred in the absence of transient activation, attesting to the incapacity of plasmin to directly activate proMMP-9 and direct MMP-9 inhibition by Alendronate and EDTA. Our study provides a novel rational for therapeutic Alendronate use in MMP-9-dependent pathology characterised by plasminogen activation.     

6]-Gingerol inhibits metastasis of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells

Gingerol (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) is one of the most frequently and heavily consumed dietary condiments throughout the world. The oleoresin from rhizomes of ginger contains [6]-gingerol (1-[4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl]-5-hydroxy-3-decanone) and its homologs which are pungent ingredients that have been found to possess many interesting pharmacological and physiological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antihepatotoxic and cardiotonic effects. However, the effects of [6]-gingerol on metastatic processes in breast cancer cells are not currently well known. Therefore, in this study, we examined the effects of [6]-gingerol on adhesion, invasion, motility, activity and the amount of MMP-2 or -9 in the MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line. We cultured MDA-MB-231 cells in the presence of various concentrations of [6]-gingerol (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 μM). [6]-Gingerol had no effect on cell adhesion up to 5 μM, but resulted in a 16% reduction at 10 μM. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with increasing concentrations of [6]-gingerol led to a concentration-dependent decrease in cell migration and motility. The activities of MMP-2 or MMP-9 in MDA-MB-231 cells were decreased by treatment with [6]-gingerol and occurred in a dose-dependent manner. The amount of MMP-2 protein was decreased in a dose-dependent manner, although there was no change in the MMP-9 protein levels following treatment with [6]-gingerol. MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA expression were decreased by [6]-gingerol treatment. In conclusion, we have shown that [6]-gingerol inhibits cell adhesion, invasion, motility and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines.     

飞燕草素通过Wnt/β-catenin信号通路抑制乳腺癌的机制研究

为研究飞燕草素对乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的影响。免疫组化检测裸鼠乳腺肿瘤组织和肺组织转移瘤Ki-67及乳腺肿瘤组织蛋白水解酶超家族基质金属蛋白酶-7(matrix metallopeptidase 7,MMP-7)的表达水平;Western blot检测移植瘤Wnt/β-catenin通路β-联蛋白(β-catenin)、磷酸糖原合成酶激酶-3β(glycogen synthase kinase-3β,GSK-3β)及通路下游细胞周期相关蛋白cyclinD1、原癌基因c-myc和MMP-7的蛋白水平表达,体内外实验发现飞燕草素不仅能抑制裸鼠异种移植瘤生长及乳腺癌肿瘤组织和肺组织转移瘤Ki-67表达还可以明显降低乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞Wnt/β-catenin信号通路β-catenin和p-GSK-3β下游靶基因c-myc、cyclin D1和MMP-7蛋白的表达。本研究证实飞燕草素能通过抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路,发挥抑制乳腺癌的作用。     

Bone morphogenetic protein-4 induced by NDRG2 expression inhibits MMP-9 activity in breast cancer cells

In the current study, we examined the function of N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) expression in breast cancer cells, especially focusing on the role of bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) induced by NDRG2. NDRG2 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells inhibited the mRNA expression of several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the gelatinolytic activity of MMP-9. Interestingly, a specific induction of active BMP-4 was exclusively observed in MDA-MB-231-NDRG2 cells but not in MDA-MB-231-mock cells. Neutralization of BMP-4 in MDA-MB-231-NDRG2 cells resulted in the rescue of MMP-9 mRNA expression and migration capacity. In addition, treatment with recombinant BMP-4 dramatically suppressed MMP-9 mRNA expression, gelatinolytic MMP-9 activity, migration, and invasion capacity both in MDA-MB-231 and PMA-treated MCF-7 cells. Collectively, our data show that BMP-4 induced by NDRG2 expression inhibits the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells, especially via suppression of MMP-9 activity.     

Arachidonic acid promotes migration and invasion through a PI3K/Akt-dependent pathway in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

Arachidonic acid (AA) is a common dietary n−6 cis polyunsaturated fatty acid that under physiological conditions is present in an esterified form in cell membrane phospholipids, however it might be present in the extracellular microenvironment. AA and its metabolites mediate FAK activation, adhesion and migration in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. However, it remains to be investigated whether AA promotes invasion and the signal transduction pathways involved in migration and invasion. Here, we demonstrate that AA induces Akt2 activation and invasion in MDA-MB-231 cells. Akt2 activation requires the activity of Src, EGFR, and PIK3, whereas migration and invasion require Akt, PI3K, EGFR and metalloproteinases activity. Moreover, AA also induces NFκB-DNA binding activity through a PI3K and Akt-dependent pathway. Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that Akt/PI3K and EGFR pathways mediate migration and invasion induced by AA in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.